Bottle-washing machine.



C. K. VOLCKBNING. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBIS, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1-912.

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/l/Iorney UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

CHARLES K. VOLCKENING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, CHARLES K. VoLcKnN- ING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city and State of New York, have inventedcertain Improvements in Bottle-lVashing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in bottle washingmachines, and more particularly in that class or type of such machineswherein a stationary mo-uth piece or nipple is provided for engagementwith the mouth or lip of the bottle during the operation of the washingdevices, and the object of the invention is to provide a machine of thisgeneral character having means for actuating or supporting the washingdevices adapted for cooperation with such mouth piece or nipple in animproved manner during the use of the machine, and presenting certainfeatures of novelty and advantage, whereby increased durability isattained, and repairs may be effected in a quick and convenient manner.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the bottlewashing machine, whereby certain important advantages are attained, andthe machine is rendered simpler, less expensive in structure andoperation, and otherwise better adapted and more convenicnt andeffective for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understoml` l will nowproceed to describe the invention with reference to thel accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure l is an axial section taken through the mouthpiece or nipple and actuating or supporting means for the washingdevices of a bottle washing machine, and illustrating one embodiment ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view illu.-:trating in plan cert aiufeatures of the anti-friction bearing at the upper end or head of the,supporting sleeve or member` Fig. 3 is a transverst,` section takenthrough the actuating and supporting means in the plane indicated by theline r a, in Fig. l. illustratingr certain featuresI of the `guidinglmeans comprised in my present. invention; Vig. li is a detached andSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 13, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 632,823.

enlarged perspective view illustrating certain features of theconstruction of the feather forming part of the guiding meansillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5 is ay fragmentary sectional viewtaken axially through the lower end of the supporting sleeve or memberin a plane at right angles to the plane of the section in Fig. 1, andshowing certain features of the guiding means to be hereinafterexplained; Fig, 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken axially throughthe anti-friction devicesv at the upper end or head of the supportingsleeve or member and illustrating a slightly different formation of suchdevices comprised within my present invention; Fig. 7 is a view somewhatsimilar to Fig. 2, illustrating another slightly different structure ofthe anti-friction devices at the head end of the supporting member, andF ig. 8 is another fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to Fig.6, illustrating still another different formation of the anti-friction'devices comprised in my present invention.

In these views I have not deemed it essential to illustrate the detailedconstruction of the bottle washing machine to which my improvements areapplied for use, ex-l cepting as lto such of the operative parts withwhich my improvements are directly concerned or related, and I desire itto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application toany special kind or style of bottle washing machine, butniav be appliedto machines 'of various constructions with good resultsr` in which :aseit will obviously be within therange of the inven- ,tion to modify orvary the formation and arrangement"of the operative parts to accommodatethe particular machine to which my improvements are to be applied.

The machine wherein my improvements are herein shown embodied isprovided with a stationary mouth piece or nipple with which the mouth orlip of the bottle is adapted to be engaged during the washing operation,in such a manner that the washing devices may be guided in appropriatealinement with the mouth of the bottle for washing the same in a `wellknown way, and such washing devices may be of the usual kind or type`including a longitudinally movable iet pipe or member insertiblc throughthe mouth-piece or nipple into the interior of the bottle and providedwith brushes adapted :for rotation within the bottle for cleansing thesame. As such devices are weli known and. form no niaierial part of thepresent invention, l have not considered it necessary to show them iudetail herein.

The mouth piece or nipple as herein shown comprises a lower cup-likemember or housing l, within which is arranged an upper flanged member .2having detachable screw engagement with the lower member as indicated at3 and provided in its upper surface with a flared or concave seat 4 withwhich the mouth or lip of the bottle to be Washed is adapted to beengaged in a well known Way so that a close joint may be producedbetween the mouth piece or nipple and said lip of the bottle, and saidupper member is provided with a. central passageor bore 5 through whichthe washing devices are adapted to be projected, when movedlongitudinally, sp as to enter finto the mouth of the bottle in a Wellknown way,

The form and proportion of the members ll and 2 of the mouth piece ornipple as herein shown is such that a space or chamber 6 is producedwithin the lower member 1 beneath the upper flanged member 2, adaptedfor the reception of the enlarged or headed upper extremity 7 of thesupporting member 8, which is made tubular as shown, being provided withan axial bore or passage to be traversed by the washing devices asindicated at 16, and-is adapted for rotatory movement in unison withsuch washing de vices. The lower part of the member 1 of the mouth pieceor nipple is provided with envinturned annular Harige, as indihated at7, which by engagement beneath. the head or enlargement 7 of thesupporting member 8, effectively su ports the said member 8 in positionpen ent from the mouth piece, and affords a bearing wherein said headedupper end of such member 8 turns during its rotatory movement.

At its lower part, the supporting member 8 suspended from the mouthpiece or nipple, as above described, is provided with' longitudinallj.extended guiding devices, 9, 9, diametrically opposite to one another,and forming features projecting from the diametrically opposite sides ofsaid member for engagement in correspondingly located grooves or waysproduced in an actuating sleeve or member 10, which in the usualconstruction o'f machines of this type er v.kind is mounted in a bearingfor free rotatorj,r movement and is provided with an annular gearsurface, as shown at 1l with which gearing is adapted for engagement insuch a manner as to impart rapid rotatorj7 lovement to said actuatingmember, and through the guides or feathers 9, 9, to the inclesedsupporting sleeve or member 8, while par mitting such endwise movementof the said member 8 within said member l0 and mouth piece member 1 asis required in the operation of the parts to which I have shown myin'iprovements applied for use.

The guiding devices 9, 9 at diametricallv opposite sides of thesupporting member 8 also operate to guide and direct the endwisemovements of the washing devices within said member 8, while compellingrotatory movement of such 'Washing devices in unison with the rotator)Ymovement ot the supporting member within whose bore lf3 such vdevicesare normally inclosed in the usual manner. In the drawings l have shownone element of the endwisc movable washing devices at 34C in Fig.A 3,the same being engaged with the guiding devices tl, 9, so as to becapable of the endwise movement requisite to assure introduction intothe bottle and at the same time to compel rotation of such washingdevices in unison with the sleeve of member 8 and actuating member 1G.

In the operation of machines of this general character as heretoforeconstructed, where integral guides or feathersghave been provided insideand outside the lower part of the supporting sleeve or member 8, thestrain imposed upon the parts during rotation and relative endwisemovement of the members has ordinarily resulted in such great wear ofthe guiding means as quickly unlits the parts for use, and requirestheir replacement at short intervals, ,with conse vquent expense andinterruption of the use of the machine, and to avoid the expense undannoyance hitherto common in such machines, have provided the member Swith removable separately formed guiding members 9, 9, diametricallypositioned at its lower part, so that when these members become wornduring the use of the machine, they may he quickly and conveniently withdrawn and replaced at a minimum of err pense and without substantialinterruption of the use of the machine.

In the structure herein shown, the wall ofthe sleeve or member 8 issawed or cut through at diametrically opposite points, as clearly shownat 12, 12 in the drawings, and the members 9, 9, being made in the formshown in Figs. 1 and 4. are provided with widened portions le, of suchdimensions as to be adapted to fit snugly within the recesses 12, 12,with outer edge portions protruding beyond thel peripheral surfaces ofthe member 8 and affording external feathers for sliding engx-igementwithin the grooves of the actuating member 10, and in ner edge portions153, 15 projecting within the bore- 1 6 of the supporting member forsimilar sliding engagement with thc dia-if metricaily opposite groovesor wave ot the member 34. of the -Washing devices oui-ing upper end ofthe supporting endwise movement of such devices relatively to thesupporting member. These replaceable members t), t), may be convenientlyand inexpensively made from steel or other suitable metal, and forholding them removably in position within the slotted openings 12, 12 ofmember 8 I have shown pins 20, 20 passed in spaced relation through eachsuch member t) and through the walls of the member 8, which may bereadily driven out 'and reinserted when the parts of the machine areseparated to permit the convenient removal and substitution of themembers t). Above the openings 12, 12, the side walls of the member 8have grooves or channels in their external surfaces as indicated at 17in Fig. 1, and the members 9 have narrow upper extensions which titaccurately in these grooves 17, and have pointed extremities 18, whichare adapted for engagement in undercut portions at the upper extremitiesof such grooves to retain said upper extensions in relation to themember 8. At their inner parts, the members 9, 9 are also provided withshort upturned extensions or locking portions 19, 1S) which engage uponthe inner surface of the member 8, above the slotted openings 12, 12 inthe side walls thereof and further assist in retaining the members t) inaccurate relation to the sleeve 8, while the lower extremity of saidsleeve or member 8, whereat the slots 12, 12 terminate and are open, ismade reduced as indicated at 21, for the reception of an externallyflanged ferrule 22, which encircles the slotted lower end of said sleeveor member to prevent spreading of the same, and is held in position bymeans of screws 23, 23 or the likeas indicated in Fig. 5. The lowerextremities of the guide members 9, S) are also shown provided withreduced portions 24, 24 which t within the flange ot' the ferrule 22, inorder that the said members 9 may be effectively held in place at theirlower ends. The ferrule 22 is readily relnovable and replaceable when itis desired to relnove and substitute the guide members 9.

In the parts to which I have herein shown my improvements applied foruse, the formation and arrangement of theheaded sleeve or member and ofthe chamber (i of the mouth piece or nipple is such that the uppersurface of said headed end of the member 8 is normally below and out ofcontact with the upper member 2 of the mouth piece, so that as themember 8 turns when in its lowered position, there will be no wearingcontact between its headed upper end and the undersurfaee of said member2 of the mouth piece, but when in the operation of the machine, thesupporting sleeve or member is thrust forcibly upward, the upper surfaceof its head or enlargement 7 is brought into contact with theundersurface of the mouth piece member 2 in such a manner as to producea close joint therewith, whereupon the bore or passage 1G of the member8 forms a substantial continuation of the opening 5 of the mouth piecein order to guide the washing devices, when the same move endwise Withinmember 8, accurately up -through the neck of the bottle engaged withsaid mouth piece.

In such machines as heretofore constructed, the engagement of the headedend of the supporting member with the undersurface of the member 1 ofthe mouth piece has also resulted in aggravated Wear by reason of therapid rotation of the member 8 in contact with the stationary mouthpiece member 2, so that it has been necessary to separate and replacethe worn parts at frequent intervals, with resultant interruption of theuse of the machine, and expense for new parts, and my inventioncontemplates the provision of novel means whereby this wear may bematerially lessened without material modification of the construction,and whereby such wear occurs may be readily compensated for byreplacement of minor parts at small expense and Without materialinterruption in the use of the machine.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown, the under-surface 25 ofthe member 2 of the mouth piece or nipple is made flared or conical, soas to fit accurately upon a correspondingly formed surface 26 at theupper side of the head or enlargement 7 of the supporting sleeve ormember 8 for the production of a tight joint between the parts when`said member 8 is thrust endwise and upward, and said conical surface 26is produced upon a separable and independently formed part or member 27produced from thin metal in inverted cup-like shape, which is supportedabove an annular integral flange 33 of said member 8 by' means of aninterposed anti-friction bearing in such a manner that said part ormember 27 may turn freely upon the upper end of the supporting sleeve ormember. In this manner, wlcn the sleeve or member 8 is thrust'upuf'ardto force the part or member 27 into forcible and accurate contact uponthe umlersurface 2G of the member 2 of the mouth piece, the frictionexerted upon contact of the conical surfaces of said member 2 and part.27 will be sutlicient to hold said part or member 27 securely againstturning movement, while the anti-friction bearing between the conicalsurface 2G of the part or member 27 and the flange 38 of the member 8will permit free turning movement of said member 8 relatively to thepart 27 so that no wear whatever will occur at the cont acting surfaces25 and 2G, and such wear as will occur at the anti-friction bear-`lieri'fonA iure it will be airy-.arent tbm :nien bearing may' be nl'virion lnnlh` vvllmn tl e :nope of ille invention For in l and L' limi-e .shown n, if l bearing, wherein l nerimy of'lmlls il] are heldwithin .fi retaining' ii,n ,iiiliel or ring 50, which has Screwengagement with the Upper extremity of the supporting leeve 5% andadapted lo be locked in adjusted relation thereon by menne ol :i pin orkey 32, in such ponilion [bnl ite contained balls ll beur upon n eollnror member Q9 rested upon the integral flange R3 of the sleeve or memberS, while certain nl its balls Support the snperposecl freely rotatable)mrt d r member 27, which bas a rircnmferential pendent. skirt, portionencircling the members 29 and 30 with its lower edge portion swagedinword to ntfortl n means for retaining tbe said part or member 2? inposition upon the .supporting member EL3 as shown at 28 in the drawings.

ln Fig. lmve lnown another formation of the, unit'riellon lmaring withintbe Scope.- o the preeent invention, wherein balls Si, in upper 21mllower series are engaged with n Central bearing member 30a, tbe lowerball series; operating upon si lower bearing mem` ber Q9, While theupper bull series support tbe free-ly rotatable mut 2T which simi` lnrin forni and m'mngement to that shown in Fig, l.

ln Fig. i l bhwillntrated :t form of roller b lring xvlneii may be userlin. lieu of the ball bearings above, referred to when desired, will;good results. wherein a Series ol ro'llere` 3l :1re substituted vfor theballs in n retainer 30h, :unil ir Fig. bave illustrated still nnollier'hrnmfion oit tbe anti friction bearing/ vom; @ell vvitliln tbe sermeotmy girefwnt inve @ifm xvberein 'ille son porting member H firm itl/:dwith an inte ffrzil annular be mernliei Hill snr-remix? ing ils opper emnerielion ringe or Wambel-s ill?, lll l4 n neitioisetl below und abovetbe Home to ron i ille free turning mowmenl ot' ilnpor?. oi member 2Tsnp-- ported npfin il npglerinol ring' or washer. 'fliege untit"i'ilier. rings or washers 3l" may be. conveniently 'timnwl from brass orother soft. metal :rs to reeeive the wear in order that repairs nV beelleeterl by removal and substitution oli ,e urli rings or wasber.

From lle Abw. il fription it will be appnrent al "t li" l Wrox miimicliine constructefl ses, "fray invention is of an eX- I rremelysimple eno] Comparetively ineltp A sllve nature, nml .In giu' il!f^.l1inrl v veil :nlnpw tor use by roiiwn of tbe Simplicity of its loonetrnotion, its durability sind Sirf l tbe liability with lvl'iiebrepair ,von l tente-il, and it will also be obvion.; il l above,leseriptioi'x that the der' il; si jeepN Libie of considerablemofliiiezition vvilliofit material depara Y "rom the, principle anflspirit of the invention; :unl for this reason l do not desire to beunilertoo in; lin 'tion myself to the precise fornmlion :mit arr y mentof the several parte, herein oet in carrying out my invention in p it ffe, -l

Having time described my invention, Jvlnil' l claim and desire tosecure, by Letters Pat' ent is:

l. A device of the character described lmving two concentric rotatablemembers, one of which is movable endwise relatively to the other, oneSnellv member being u supporting member adapted to be traversed by u.Washing device, and the other member being an actuating member inclosingsaid @un porting member` a. guide removably monniable with the othermember to eompel tation of suoli members in nnlsom snnl emile havinginterlocking engagement with elle, member whereon the guide is molsmedand dlsengageable from such member @non enfl- Wise movement. of theguide relrnifeljf ie suoli member, and releasable means nrevenlingendwise movement of tbe gni A tively to the member whereon the :salmimounted.

2. A device of the Character llescriboffl luie ing two concentricrotatable memlur'rn, one of which is movable emlvfise reliitivel'v totbe otlleix one Snell member beim; a enpporf ing member adapted to betrafvernell by :i Wasliing device, and the other member lifelng unactuating member inclosing saitl sur porting member a guide ren'iovablymount ed upon one of said members and engi-agi able with tbe omerineinber to compel ro tation of iti me fr in imisorn nifl guidebe'lngpro led with it nett-li ntordingszpaeefl ,y projections liiivngintfiwrloeltlng engagement l 'with tbe mem wbereon the guide l inolmtedand dmingageable from Snell meniber upon enelwise movement of the guiderelatively to Snell member, and releasable l means for preventingendwise movement of l the guide relatively to the member Wiiereon l thesame is mounted.

t A device ofthe characterdeseribedhav l ing-gr two concentric rotatablemembers, one I of which is movable endwise relatively to the other, onesurh member being a sup porting member adapted to be traversed by ,flWashing device, :1nd the other member bef ing; an aetuating memberinelosing .said u|iporting member, a guide remmnblyy mounted upon one ofsnitl members mgl engage# being provided with an integral projeetion edupon one of said members and engageable with the other member to compelrotation of such members in unison, said guide being provided at one endwith an integral projection having interlocking engagementy with themember whereon the guide is mounted, and disengageable from such memberupon endwise movement of the guide relatively to such member` and a parthaving screw connection with the member whereon the guide is mounted andhaving engagement with the opposite end portion of said guide to preventendwise movement thereof relatively to the member whereon said guide ismounted.

l. A device of the character described having a slotted supportingmember, a guide VYremovably inserted in the slot of said member andhaving inner and outer edge portions projecting from theI inner andouter surfaces ot the supporting member, and pins passed through saidguide and engaged with the walls of the supporting member for retainingsaid guide removably in place, an actuating member surrounding thesupporting member and wherewith the outer edge portion of said guide hassliding engagement and an endwise movable washing device within thesupporting member and wherewith the inner edge portion of said guide hassliding engagement.

A device of the character described having a supporting member one en(rportion of which has diametrically opposite slots extended through itand is provided with a reduced extremity, guides removably inserted inthe slots at opposite sides of said member and having inner and outeredge portions projecting from the inner and outer surfaces of saidmember and affording feathers for guiding engagement with cooperatingmembers, and a ferrule removably applied at the extremity ot saidsupporting member and operable to prevent spreading thereof.

t3. device ot the character described having a stationary mouthpieceengagcal'ile with the lip of a bottle to be cleansed. a supportingmember mounted for rotatory movement and adapted to be traversed by awashing device and capable of endwise movement into and out ofcooperative relation to the mouthpiece, means for rotating saidsupporting member, and a freely rota- 'table part interposed between thesupport,-

ing member and the mouthpiece and adapted to be moved into and out ofengagement with the mouthpiece` upon cndwise movement of said supportingmember, and adapted to be held against movement by such engagement withsaid mouthpiece.

7. A device ofthe character described having a stationary mouthpieceengageable with the lip of a bottle to be cleansed. a .supporting membermounted tor rotatoryI and endwise movement into and out of coperatingrelation with this mouth piece and adapted to be traversed by a Washingdevice, means for rotating said supporting member, and relativelyrotatable bearing members interposed between said supporting member andthe mouth piece, one of said members being adapted to be moved into andout of frictional engagement with the stationary mouth piece uponendwise movement of the supporting member and being held againstrotation by such trictional engagement, and said bearing members beingoperable as an anti-friction bearing when the supporting member is movedinto cooperation with said mouth piece.

device of the character described having a mouth piece one side of whichis engageable with the lip of a bottle to be cleansed. said mouth piecebeing stationary during engagement of the bottle therewith, a drivenrotatable supporting member movable toward and from the opposite side ofthe mouth piece and adapted to be traversed by a washing deviceinsertible within the bottle through said mouth piece, and a partinterposed between the driven rotatable supporting member and stationarymouth piece normally capable of free movement and adapted upon movementof the supporting member toward the mouth piece, t0 be pressed intoclose engagement with said mouth piece to afford a close joint betweenthe same and the supporting member, said interposed part. when engagedwith the mouth piece, being held stationary in position to prevent wearthereof.

t). A device of the character described having two members, one of whichis a stationary mouth piece.engagcable with the lip ot a bottle to becleansed` and the other of which is a driven rotatable supporting membermovable toward and from the mouth piece anl1 adapted to be traversed bya washing device insertible within the bottle through said mouth piece,and a normally inactive anti-friction device interposed between saidstationary and driven rotatable members and operable, upon movement ot'the supporting member toward the mouth piece. to be moved into and outof contact with the stationary mouth piece to reduce wear and to preventtrictional contact between said members.

lt). device of the character described ha ving two members, one of whichis a stationary mouth piece engageable with the lip ot" a bottle to becleansed. andthe other ot' which is a driven rotatable supporting membermovable toward and from thel mouth piece and adapted to be traversed bya war-hing' device insertible within the bottle through said mouthpiece, and a normally inactive anti-friction device interposed betweensaid stationary and driven rotatable 5:.' rol'novalj ly cqnneffed withone m, :a #l adapted, upon movement of the :ezspim'lngf member fowardthe mouh Neffe o b# mm'ed into and out of engagw Imam' wii.- zwstatormry mouth piecc and. uhm mag-god thcrcwih, t0 redue wem' andmaven@ frintnmx] Contact between said men'lbvr.

i In wihwss whereof I have hereunto signed l my name lhis 10th day ofJune 1911, 1n the 1U presence of two subscnbmg Wltnesses.

